Is the Quran or Bible the Word of God? Christianity or Islam?

Is the Quran or Bible the Word of God? Emails from Muslims to a Christian

Imam Nawawi’s Forty Hadith: Hadith 40, 41, 42: Be a Stranger in this World; The Sign of Faith; Ascribing no Partners to Allah

Avoiding Islamic Stereotypes

There are many representations and stereotypes of Islam on the Internet that most Muslims would not agree with:

Allah is the name of a moon god

Muslim women have no rights

All Muslims are terrorists

Muslims that are not violent are bad Muslims

Muslims are primarily Arabs

Profitable dialogue involves listening to what another has to say (Proverbs 10:19). In order to avoid logorrhea blogorrhea – incessant blogtalk – I have been listening and learning to Sheikh Ali Gomaa teach about Nawawi and the Forty Hadith. There are many representations and stereotypes of Islam on the Internet that most Muslims would not agree with:

This is the last episode and you will notice that the are forty-two and not forty hadiths.

Hadiths 40, 41, and 42 compiled by Nawawi, first in Arabic and then the English translation,

In the evening do not expect [to live until] the morning, and in the morning do not expect [to live until] the evening. Take [advantage of] your health before times of sickness, and [take advantage of] your life before your death.

It was related by al-Bukhari.

Hadith 41 compiled by Imam Nawawi, first in Arabic and then in English,

On the authority of Anas (radi allahu ‘anhu6) who said : I heard the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) say :

Allah the Almighty has said : O Son of Adam, as long as you invoke Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O Son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and you then asked forgiveness from Me, I would forgive you. O Son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the Earth, and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it [too].

It was related by at-Tirmidhee, who said that it was a Hasan hadeeth.

Ali Gomaa’s Explanation of Hadeeth 40, 41and 42

In the following video Ali Gomaa teaches about the 40th (0:00-4:30) and 41st (4:31-7:20) and 42nd (7:21-9:25) hadiths compiled by an-Nawawi. My notes follow.

Hadith 40: Be a Stranger in this World (000-4:30)

1:02-1:45

“If one has this feeling, he would not sin. He would not amass wealth. He would not cling to this worldly life. He would not fear anybody nor seek their satisfaction on the noble shari’a’s account. If the human has this feeling within, he would reach the rank of piety, credibility, sincerity, transparency, and clarity with one’s self and others.”

1:46-3:20

Be in the world as if you were a stranger or a wayfarer – “Some sayings emphasize this meaning, e.g. “Work of this life as if you are living forever, and work for your hereafter as if you are dying tomorrow.” However, some people misinterpreted this saying, “Work for this life as if you are living forever,” So, they buy properties as if they’ll live forever while this is not what it meant.”

“Rather, it meant that we shouldn’t be greedy for this worldly life. Suppose you lived forever, whatever you missed today in this worldly life, you will have it later. Because you are living forever. Thus, you shouldn’t be greedy for this worldly life. You shouldn’t go amass fortunes as if you are dying tomorrow. As for the hereafter, you should work for it as if you are dying tomorrow.”

“This hadith orders us to be as strangers or wayfarers in the world.”

Hadith 41: The Sign of Faith (4:31-7:20)

5:39-6:04

“We should love the Prophet (SAWS) wholeheartedly. So, your wishes would be in accordance with the noble sunnah. Your tendencies would always be towards the Prophet’s (SAWS) orders. This is ikhlas “sincerity”.

This hadith has been interpreted this to mean that “a person is not a Muslim unless he accepts what is in the Qur’aan and Sunnah without grudge and resistance. “But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith [Eemaan] until they make you (O Muhammad, Sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission” [Surah Nisaa’, 65]” (The Signs of Faith).

Hadith 42: Allah’s Forgiveness with the Exception of Ascribing Partners to Allah (7:21-9:25)

8:05-8:39

“This hadith reflects how forgiving Allah (SWT) is. He is so merciful. His mercy is so vast. This was the last hadith mentioned by Imam An-Nawawi in his Book of Forty ahadith. With it we finish the narration of this honorable book.”

Arabic to English translation meaning, May Allah bless him and grant him peace. Often abbreviated SAWS. This Arabic phrase is used after references to Muhammad and his titles. The Quran commands Muslims to use this, or like expression, when referring to Muhammad and promises to reward them ten times. [↩]

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